Role of mean circulation,tides, and waves in the transport of bottom sediment on the New Zealand continental shelf

Evaluation of velocity data on water movements over the New Zealand continental shelf has revealed that the mean circulation by itself is too slow to induce transport of bottom sediments. Tides generally have higher velocities, but are still not the main transporting agent except in the tide‐dominated Cook and Foveaux. Straits. Waves have the potential to stir sediments on the inner and middle shelf (less than about 70 m deep) during annual storms, and probably down to 130 m depth during the maximum 25‐y storm.

For sediment transport to take place, energies of at least two of the major water movements would have to complement one another. Optimum conditions for transport probably occur during storm periods when wave‐suspended sediment is readily moved by tides and the mean circulation.

The direction of transport is mainly along the continental shelf and is largely in response to prevailing weather patterns coincident with the direction of the mean circulation and strongly reinforced by the appropriate phase of the tide.     

Sieve‐bucket for rapid field separation of macrofauna from bottom samples (note)

A lidded, 18‐litre sieve bucket was used to separate benthic macroinvertebrates from samples of mud taken with an Ekman grab. The device is operated in shallow water near the shore, and an entire Ekman grab sample (up to 10 litres) can be sieved in 5–10 min.     

Intertidal sand‐dwelling Peracarid fauna of North Island,New Zealand

Abstract

Substrate and infauna samples were taken at four tidal levels (mean high water springs, high mid beach, low mid beach, and mean low water neaps) with a 0.0625 m² quadrat at 14 North Island beaches in New Zealand. The distributions of Peracarida (Crustacea) were correlated with sediment type, tidal height, and degree of exposure; sampling began in March 1972 and was completed in November 1973.

Substrate samples were sieved and median diameter of the particles ranged from very coarse sand of — 0.60? to very fine sand of + 3.259?. Substrates were variously sorted: ? quartile deviation ranged from 0.14? to 0.66?, skewness from ‐ 0.08? to + 0.07?.

Peracarid fauna was moderately abundant; the maximum value was 720 animals per square metre on a fully exposed beach. Highest average abundance (303 per square metre) for the 14 beaches was recorded from the mean low water neap station. Amphipoda was the dominant group (54% of all Peracarida recorded), followed by Isopoda (33%) and Cumacea (13%). Frequency of occurrence at the 56 stations was headed by Amphipoda (64%), followed by Isopoda (46%), and Cumacea (20%).

The results are compared with data from Stewart Island beaches, and the biogeographical distributions of recorded Peracarida are discussed. An unexpectedly high degree of endemism exists for a warm‐temperate region, caused by the isolation of New Zealand, which has no direct shallow water contact with tropical or cold temperate regions.     

Waters of the western springs catchment,Auckland

Abstract

Aquifers occur in basalt deposits infilling valleys in the Western Springs catchment of Auckland City, and they discharge into small streams incised along the edges of major lava flows. Total run‐off from the area is >0.261 m³·s^?1. Analyses by standard methods of twelve subsurface and surface waters show that flowing groundwaters have a low level of pollution (dissolved oxygen x = 7.6 mg·l^?1, abuminoid nitrogen x = 0.038 mg·l^?1, and total solids x = 188 mg·l^?1). Surface waters and stagnant groundwater have high, but varying levels of biological activity. Although much of the dissolved solid content of all the waters (e.g., Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SiO₂) is consistent with the chemistry of the rocks of the catchment, particularly the glassy volcanic tuffs, for surface waters various sources of pollution also make significant contributions (e.g., leaking sewers, sewage overflows, combustion of fossil fuels, fertilisers, zoo animals). Apart from its iron level, the moderate volume (～.0.13 m³·s^?1) of flowing groundwater is of suitable quality for domestic, industrial and irrigation needs.     

Reduction of a population of Canterbury mudfish,Neochanna burrowsius (Galaxiidae), by drovight

A population of Canterbury mudfish Neochanna burrowsius (Phillipps), estimated to exceed 3000 adults in July‐December 1975, and its habitat at Clearwell in mid Canterbury, are described. A 7 month drought nearly extinguished the population; this and the subsequent return migration (in August 1976) of survivors from a stockwater race are recorded.     

New distribution records of macrothricid Cladocera in New Zealand

Neothrix armata is recorded for the first time from Lakes Rotorua and Rotokakahi, and Streblocerus serricaudatus from Lake Tikitapu.     

Physical characterisation and a biologically focused classification of “seamounts” in the New Zealand region

The physical, biological, and oceano‐graphic characteristics of seamounts of the New Zealand region of the South Pacific Ocean are poorly known. The aim of this study was to present a synopsis of the physical characteristics of seamounts within the region, and to present a preliminary classification using biologically meaningful variables. Data for up to 16 environmental variables were collated and used to describe the distribution and characteristics of the c. 800 known seamounts in the New Zealand region. Seamounts span a wide range of sizes, depths, elevation, geological associations and origins, and occur over the latitudinal range of the region, lying in different water masses of varying productivity, and both near shore and off shore. As such, it was difficult to generally describe New Zealand seamounts, as there is no “typical” feature. Thirteen environmental variables were included in a multivariate cluster analysis to identify 12 seamount similarity groupings, for a subset of over half the known seamounts. The groupings generally displayed an appreciable geographic distribution throughout the region, and were largely characterised by a combination of four variables (depth at peak, depth at base, elevation, and distance from continental shelf). In the future, the findings of the present study can be tested to determine the validity and usefulness of the approach for directing future biodiversity research and informing management of seamount habitat.     

Spatial and temporal variability of the ratios between the nitrate and phosphate concentrations in the Sea of Okhotsk

The relation between the nitrate and phosphate concentrations in the Sea of Okhotsk and the bordering waters of the Pacific Ocean were studied. The surveys were carried out in the autumn, spring, and summer of 2001–2002. For the deepwater part of the sea, the relation [NO^? ₃] = ((14.88 ± 0.07) × [PO^3? ₄] ? 5.46 ± 0.17) was found. The coefficients in the equation given are statistically different from those in the similar equation for the Pacific waters: [NO^? ₃] = (16.05 ± 0.15) × [PO^3? ₄]-(7.23 ± 0.36). In the northern part of the sea; on the shelf; in the slope area; and, especially, in the deep waters of the TINRO Depression, the linear dependence between the phosphate and nitrate concentrations was distorted. This feature was described in terms of nitrate deficiency. The maximum values of this deficiency were found in the near-bottom waters. The principal processes that might cause the nitrate deficiency were considered: the difference in the oxidation rates of the nitrogen and phosphorus organic compounds, the matter transfer between the continent and the sea, the different efficiency of the biogenic burial of nitrogen and phosphorus in the bottom sediments, and the denitrification in the upper layer of the bottom sediments. It was shown that the most probable cause of the nitrate deficiency was the denitrification. The loss of inorganic nitrogen owing to the supply of the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk to the Pacific Ocean was estimated as ～2.5 × 10¹¹ mol N/year.     

Thermohydrodynamics of the ocean decay of nonlinear oscillations in a bounded basin of variable depth

We study the time decay of surges of a liquid in a round shallow-water basin of variable depth. The dependence of the logarithmic decrement of oscillations on the bottom topography and wind velocity is analyzed. The role of convective acceleration and bottom friction in the formation of both the level of vertical displacement of the surface of the basin and the velocity field of horizontal wave currents is estimated. __________ Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 2, pp. 3–11, March–April, 2006.     

Geochronology of the American-Antarctic Ridge

A new map of chrons for the American-Antarctic Ridge area has been compiled. Its analysis and the calculations performed showed that the seafloor spreading with respect to its axis started before 85 My B.P. The spreading directions were 115° (chrons C34-C29), 145° (chrons C29-C21), 110° (chrons C21-C5C), and 85° (chrons C5C-C1). The maximum rates of about 4 cm/year were reached earlier than 52 My B.P.; subsequently, a progressive general decrease in the spreading rate has been observed. According to our forecast, the spreading may cease in the following 3.5 My.